Trolley contactor



y 8, 1940. s. s. STOLPLET AL 2,202,471

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0 o i o INVENTORS l v SAMUEL 5. STOLP V n :1 BY RUFUS C. SUTTON ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES TROLLEY CONTACTOR Samuel S. Stolp, Louisville, Ky., and Rufus 0. Sutton, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Cheatham Electric Switching Device Co., Incorporated, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Application March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,900:

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to trolley wire contactors for engagement by a wheel or shoe of a trolley whereby the operation of various apparatus,such as switches, signals, and the like, can be effected B by the passageof the trolley through the contactor.

The main'object of this invention is to provide a contactor having a runway which guides the trolley, by the groove of the wheel thereon in a 10 substantially smooth even course, through the section of the trolley wire embraced thereby so that the trolley can proceed at relatively high as well as low speeds. This feature of a contactor is referred to in the industry as having a smooth l underrun.'

Another object of this invention is to provide means for definitely closing and opening electrical contacts incident to the passage of the trolley through thecontactor.

20 A further object of this invention is to organize the electrical contacts of the contactor and mechanism for operating samefor withstanding constant usage over a long period of time and render dependable service.

A further object of the invention is to provide electrical contacts independent of springs that are operated by the pressure of, but not through contact with the trolley wheel. Astill further object of theinvention resides in 30 a structure that permits renewal of contacts or repairs to other component parts in the event they are impaired by long usage or mechanical damage such as may result from a wild trolley. To the obtainment of these ends and the ac 5 complishment of the new and useful objects hereinafter appearing, this invention consists. in the features of novelty disclosed in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts shown in the accompanyingdrawing, illustrating 40 a preferred embodiment and therein:

In the drawing: g Figure l is a plan view of the contactor.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views in elevation" of Figure l at lines 2--2, 3-3, respectively, with- 45 outregard to other parts falling in the background. 1

Figures 4 and 4A are sectional views in elevation of Figure 1 on line 4-6, the former being in the operated position and the latterin the 50 normal or rest position. In this arrangement of the contacts the contactor is for use in connection with a system of the normally open circuit classification. Figure 4 shows the contacts engaged or closed while Figure 4A shows them dis- 55- engaged or open.

Figures 5 and 5A are similar to Figures 4 and 4A respectively, however, certain details are modified to show the contacts arranged for use in a system of the normally closed circuit classifie 60 cation.

Figured is an enlarged view of the upper left hand end of Figure 4, which is a duplicate of the other corresponding end.

Describing the parts by use of referencecharacters, numerals ill, Illa designate supporting c; beams. composed of wood or other suitable material having electrically insulated portions and are secured in fixed angularly disposed relation by means of metallic brackets ll, Ila. having channels Hb, tic, respectively, for the reception of a 10 trolley wire not shown. It is to be understood that the said trolley-wire is disposed in said I channels and secured thereto by conventional means and looped upwardly so that it will pass over the top of the contactor without engagement with other parts thereof. This engagement being similar to that disclosedin United States Patent No. 2,076,101, issued to Samuel S. Stolp and Rufus C. Sutton, under date of ,April6, 1937.

The rigid runway 13 is-secured to saddles M, 0 tfiby swadging lips Ma, 15a, as illustrated in the sectional views. To pivotally mount runway i3 to the beams at one end, bolts I6, i6 extend through metallic sleeves ll, Ila, which in turn are disposed in holes in the beams, as shown in ;2 5 Figure 2. The flanged top of each sleeve H is formed with a concave seat to receive the convex face of head 5a of bolt 66, thereby providing a universal or quasi-ball and socket type joint at 58. To permit this joint to function freely, a

clearance between bolt it and-the inner bore of sleeve 51 is provided. -Adjacent the other end of runway l3, projections in the form of studs 20, 20a are secured thereto, preferably by screw threads, and angularly disposed so that they will register substantially -in parallel with holes 0b, H30, in beams l0, Ilia, respectively. Obviously these holes not only provide clearance forthe studs, but cooperate therewith to form a positive stop for the free end of the runway.

The left hand ends of metallic arms 22, 220., which are of channel section, are secured to beams it; Illa. by means of conventional'securing devicesv 22b, 220, with section of insulating material 23, 23a, disposed there between. To the under faces of each of these overhanging arms are cupped shaped terminals 24, 24a, disposed in cups, of insulating material 24b, 24c, respectively, which are secured to the arms by means of nuts 25, 25a. The edges of these cups 24, 24a, are curled inwardly to embrace and secure a disk of contact material 26, 26a, which are so located that theywill be contacted byrthe upper ends of studs 20, 28a. In Figure 4 the runway is shown as having been raised vertically and closed in response to pressure exerted by the wheel W of a trolley passing through the contactor. Figure 4A shows the said'contacts separated, which is the normal rest and open position. It should be noted that the sides of these studs are in engagement with the lower side of the bore lilb, l 00, thus forming a stop thereby, as adverted to above.

To insure the runway definitely coming to rest in the position just referred to, spring 27 is provided to assist the action of gravity. This spring is disposed in thimble 28, which is in telescopic relation to flanged inverted thimble 29, which in turn is fixed in yoke 39, the latter being rigidly secured to beams [0, la, by means of bolts 31, iila. It will be noted in Figure 3, that the spring pressure is transmitted to runway l3 by thimble 2t resting on, but not secured to the top of same.

In Figures 5 and 5A the circuit controlling contacts have been rearranged so that the contactor can be used in a system employing a normally closed circuit. Secured under the nuts adjacent the over-hanging ends of arms 22, 22a are disposed angular contact supports 32, 32a, which extend through said arms. Each of these supports have a contact member, which is positioned for register with the sides of the ends of studs Eli, 26a, when the runway is in the rest position as shown in Figure 5A. In Figure 5 the runway is shown in the raised or open position, corresponding to the position represented in Figure 4. In Figure 2, the head its of bolt i6 is shown with a countersunk screw lBb for use as a line terminal when connecting the runway 53 into a circuit. On arms 22, 22a, terminals 220?, 222 are provided for connection with contacts 26, 26a.

It will be noted that the runway, when at rest, is supported at one end by the pivoted bearings i8 and that the end remote thereto is supported by the diagonally disposed studs resting in bores or holes lilb', lilo, thus positively positioning and maintaining the entering or left hand end of the runway for alignment with bracket 1 la for receiving wheel W or a shoe. Likewise, when the trolley wheel has forced the runway to the upper position, the free or leaving end is forced into a definite alignment with bracket H by reason of the contacts limiting the vertical travel thereof. The vertical coacting contacts on either side may engage before the ones on the other side, however, it is to be understood that the objective is to so adjust the contacts that, on an average, each pair will be practically simultaneously engaged. While the pivoted end of the runway has two pairs or sets of members forming pivots disposed as explained above, they function as one bearing and could be so constructed; also, this contactor device could be constructed with only one beam of insulating material. The runway is located and retained in the normal position by a three point bearing, likewise, when it is moved to the upper vertical position incident to the passage of the trolley wheel, it is arrested by a three point bearing.

Since the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is no more than a preferred form, it must not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended herewith being relied upon for that purpose.

We claim:

1. In a trolley contactor device provided with an insulated rigid conductor runway disposed parallel to a beam of insulating material; said runway being pivotally supported by said beam at one end only and yieldingly supported at the other end thereof, said device having an insulated contact member disposed on said beam;

said runway having a contact member disposed remote to the pivotal end thereof and electrically connected therewith and coacting with the other contact member.

2. In a trolley contactor device provided with an insulated rigid contactor conductor runway adjacent two linearly disposed beams of insulating material; said runway being pivotally supported by said beams at one end and yieldingly supported at the other end thereof, said device having a pair of insulated contact members disposed on said beams; said runway having a pair of contact members disposed remote to the pivotal end thereof and electrically connected therewith and coacting with the other contact members.

3. A device of the class described, including a pair of longitudinal beams disposed in parallel relation and provided with means for attachment to a trolley wire; a rigid runway movably supported between and at one end of said beams substantially in alignment with and insulated from said wire for engagement with the groove of a trolley wheel and tensioned to yield to the pressure thereof; said runway having projections extending through openings in said members; normally spaced coacting contacts carried by said device and aligned with the projections on said runway and actuated thereby.

4. In a contactor device of the class described, having a pair of longitudinal beams disposed in parallel relation and provided with means for attachment to a trolley wire; a rigid runway being insulated from said wire, mounted between and pivoted at one end of said beams for vertical movement at the other end in response to pressure from the trolley wheel of a car passing the runway; said runway having projections extending above said beams; fixed contacts supported by said beams, movable contacts supported by said projections and contacting with said fixed contacts in response to movement of said runway.

'5. In a contactor device of the class described,

having a pair of longitudinal beams disposed in parallel relation and provided with means for attachment to a trolley wire; a rigid runway being insulated from said wire, mounted between and pivoted at one end of said beams for vertical movement at the other end in response to pres- 5;

sure from the trolley wheel of a car passing the runway; said runway having projections normally resting on and extending above said beams; fixed contacts supported by said beams, movable contacts supported by said projections and contacting with said fixed contacts in response to movement of said runway.

'6. In a contactor device of the class described, having a pair of longitudinal beams disposed in parallel relation and provided with means for attachment to a trolley wire; a rigid runway being insulated from said wire, mounted between and pivoted at one end of said beams for vertical movement at the other 'end in response to pressure from the trolley wheel of a car passing the runway; said runway having projections extending diagonally therefrom and normally resting on said beams; fixed contacts supported by said beams, movable contacts supported by said projections and contacting with said fixed contacts in response to movement of said runway.

SAMUEL. S. STOLP. RUFUS C. SUTTON. 

